The pharmaceutical industry is beginning to publish aggregate totals of payments made last year to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
New figures show that payments from the pharmaceutical industry working with healthcare professionals are estimated to be around £40m for 2012.
The figures set out the details of payments made by ABPI member companies relating to sponsorship for NHS staff to attend medical education events, support such as training and development, as well as fees for services such as speaking engagements to share good clinical practice and participation in advisory boards. Companies will also publish the number of health professionals they have worked with who have received payments.
Commenting on the publication of the figures, ABPI chief executive, Stephen Whitehead, said: "The industry is proud of its collaboration with healthcare professionals. Working closely with healthcare professionals has helped the industry to consult with, and listen to, clinical expertise and develop medicines which are in the best interest of patients. Full transparency about these relationships is right and appropriate and we have taken the lead to make this a reality. By publishing these figures industry’s aim is to ensure these vital relationships are open and transparent.
"It is right that professionals are reimbursed fairly for the time and expertise they regularly provide the industry in developing the next generation of medicines. These figures also show another way in which the pharmaceutical industry adds value to the NHS by supporting training and development and medical education. This support is particularly important at a time when NHS budgets are under increasing pressure. It is right that companies are transparent about the support they provide and it is important that we also recognise the benefits this delivers the NHS.